Questions before buying a MBP

Okay so i'm thinking about getting the low end 13.3 inch MBP (the one with 2gb of ram.) and I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone ever used VMware Fusion? It claims that you can use it with DirectX 9.0c. Has anyone run any high end games using this feature?
Do you run it in Xp, Vista, or 7? (I ask because isn't vista and 7 using directx 10? Do the programs still run fine?)
Would I be better off dual booting?

2. Should i get 2 or 4gb of the ddr3? 2 seems low, and I want to play some games. I've never used anything with ddr3 before. Should I up it to 4 when i buy, or wait and get it off newegg later?

3. How good is the Nvidia 9400M? My friend played Cod4 on his. Can it run pretty much most games on decent settings? ex: Company of heroes, World conflict, WoW, Quake live?
4. Does the laptop heat up? Does the laptop heat up when you're running an intense application (games, videos, etc)? Does it get warm or hot to the touch
5. Is there such a thing as mini DVI to Hdmi? and if so, how would you get audio to work with it?

Thanks for your time. These are just things i have on my mind and didn't feel like going to the apple store to ask.

 

1. Performance of any games via virtualization software is poor, if looking at contemporary ones. Older titles, depends. VMWare, Parallels and VirtualBox all will allow you to run any Windows flavor, Linux, etc. Dual-boot via Bootcamp allows you to run Windows and games natively.

2. You can't use 4GB in Windows unless you run 64bit, and no games really take full advantage of the extra ram anyway. OSX is very good (better than MS) at memory management. 2x2GB at NEgg is $57-60.

3. 9400M will run older titles within OSX quite well at medium settings at least, higher depending on age of the title. Modern games will not run at higher settings -- look back to MS systems for that.

4. Video playback does not heat up. GPU- or CPU-intensive titles, depends and the exterior can get quite warm but never painful.

5. I don't believe so. The video out on the MBPs is mini-DISPLAY PORT, not mini DVI.

 

Yea. right now on my HP, my games run at medium or below. and on high for the older games. it heats up like none other. What resolution do those 13.3inch macbook pro's run at? having such a small screen would have to increase some performance.
I don't play games all that often. but i have a steam account with all my games would still like ability to use them.

 

Well, the maximum resolution on the 13" is 1280x800.

What games are you planning on playing?

 

5 : I have seen Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adaptors on ebay , but you will not get sound

 

this is pretty much what I mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qm5exRnqp8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39yInKECFk
As long as it can do that with the 2.26ghz processor, nvidia 9400m, and either 2gb of ram or 4gb of ram. I'd be content.
The one game that does concern me would be company of heroes. I'm assuming it can play it on low settings, but if you get alot of units on the map, and lots of explosions that might slow it down.

 

As a quick comparison:
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=578&card2=596
The 9400M isn't on gpureview, but I assume it's not any faster than the 9400GT desktop card (if not slower). The 9600M GT is the chip used in the faster (bigger) Macbook Pros.

To put the numbers into perspective as far as gaming performance, here's the 9600M GT vs. the 8800M GTX in my Sager 5793:
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=569&card2=596

The "crutch" that the Macbook has for gaming performance is the low-resolution screen. 1280x800.. I can't gamed in that resolution in years. 1280x800 isn't exactly difficult for even a 9400M. Hook that Macbook up to a 1920x1200 display and crank up the game resolution. I would like to see the Youtube of that.

 

1. VMware Fusion (virtualization in general) is resource-intensive, so for graphic applications you might as well use Boot Camp to natively boot, so you can get "100% of the processing power"!

2. 2GB is good, so is 4GB . Just decide whether what you do needs/wants 4GB! Ex: Virtualization, it would be nice to have 4GB!

3. It will run them, I don't know how well, unfortunately!

4. The laptop does heat up near the left side of the bottom. I'd say its fine if you're wearing jeans, but it will be painful to touch!

 

Cool. How far along is apple in regards to running windows 7 on boot camp?
Otherwise, which is better atm, Xp or vista on a mac?

Also, is there a way to just format the whole drive to just run XP/Vista/7 and have no OSX partition at all?
(I actually want to run OSX, but as vmware fusion sounds likes it slower, i might just run a windows OS. idk yet though.)

 

I believe both Windows XP and Vista are quite good; I remember it used to be that Vista ran hotter...but not sure if that was fixed!

 

Well that is because Macbooks don't use Legacy BIOS emulation, too bad.

 

Boot Camp isn't something Windows runs "on". It's just a partitioning utility and a driver pack.

I have a Unibody 17" and Windows 7 x64 7232 runs great on it, I don't notice any unusual heat or noise, and it runs as it's supposed to. The only stickler is the trackpad; it "works", but is very touchy. It does not have the smoothness or flow that it has in OS X. I'm probably going to buy a mouse for using Windows if they don't plan to tweak the driver (which knowing Apple, is unlikely).

 

1. I have not done this myself, but from what I've read, dual booting is always better than any other alternatives.

2. I would never use a laptop with less than 4GB. Either buy the 4gb model, or upgrade it yourself. I would upgrade it yourself if you can, quite simple.

3. If your friend can play COD4 on an 9400, expect to be able to play similar games of that calibur. Blizzard games are more likely be able to run on 9400m. It sounds like your a big gamer, I would spring for the 9600.

4. I have found macbook pros a little on the hot side. Only because it has a thin profile and the exhaust/intake is all built into the hinge of the monitor. THe chassis will get warm because it acts as a heatsink as well. Get a notebook cooler if you're playing games.

5. I believe mini dvi doesn't exist. You need mini display port to hdmi. You can get this at monoprice.com. You won't get sound through this interface, so you have to route it through the audio out jack.

 

Games will use what they have available, but a 32-bit OS (especially windows due to its two 2GB types of memory) is the real limitation here. Some games are indeed optimized for 64-bit and can take advantage of the extra RAM.

OSX is currently not completely 64-bit... (until its next release) so it does indeed have better memory management than 32-bit windows, but does NOT have better management than 64-bit windows.
As 64-bit Vista and Win7 have good memory management, the judge is still out on the comparison between Vista/Win7 64-bit and the next generation of OSX.

 

There is a good chance that better drivers will be released in September when SL gets released which will fix trackpad, KBC/EC controller, and power management.

 

Maybe crysis... and... thats about it.

I can't think of very many mainstream 64 bit games.

 

I run Windows 7 on my MBP in boot camp, and it functions flawlessly. You just need to install the updated boot camp drivers and it's all good. I prefer Windows 7 at the moment.

My MBP runs hotter in Windows 7, but that's because it switches to the discrete GPU, so I'm not sure it will matter on a MacBook Pro with the 9400M.

 

Yea and when we say Macbook Pro, in this case I'm looking at the 13.3 inch one.
Yes I'm aware of how bootcamp works. and I'm not quite a hardcore gaming, I just like to play every now and then. I know more about the hardware than I do the games most of the time. (I used to work at a big box retail and sold computers, so I know what's going on, but not as much about macs as i'd like.) I'm pretty sure there's only 1 or 2 games that actually take advantage of 64 bit. Most just take advantage of the extra ram.

At the moment I'm looking at getting the 13.3inch MBP and just running Windows 7. But we'll see. (and yes I know that's not the reason to buy a mac, but I really cant find anything in that size range with such good specs.)

 

There are lots of 64 bit games. Heck even farcry 1 has 64 bit version!

 

If you dont already know you can use the program below to adjust the fan speeds in Vista

http://sourceforge.net/projects/lubbofancontrol/

 

other questions:
Is the ram in the Macbook easily user replaceable, or do you have to go to the apple store to have them do it? (also, if you buy some ram from newegg, will they install it for you?)

Is the free ipod deal something they give you the rebate for instantly in store? or do i have to mail it in? (regardless, i'm selling the ipod for some quick cash. i wish they could just give me like 150$ off the computer itself.)

I still need to decide if a macbook is what i really want, but few other machines compare.

 

1. Yes, it's fairly simple to replace ram in a 13" MacBook Pro. Here's a video of the upgrade, you can also find a guide on ifixit.

2. newegg is an internet retailer, and no, they will not install RAM for you.

3. You get the ipod rebate in the mail, but Apple is much faster about rebates than other companies. The Apple employees usually help you fill it out in the store and you get a check in like 2 weeks.

 

Some apple retail stores will install 3rd party ram for you while others will not so it is a hit and miss.

 

ram is really easy to do. Don't worry about it, its all in one spot.

 

Just something quick - the free iPod Touch deal is still on even after back to school discounts?

 

Yes, its still on.

 

You have options for games. VMware fusion is one, it runs some games. The highest end game I have ever tried in VMware (running Vista 64) was Oblivion, which was barely an acceptable frame rate at the lowest possible settings in the game, which means it ran really poor.... but it did run.

You have Wine and Wine based stuff, (Like Crossover Games) for running Windows software without Windows. With games it can be a pain in the butt to get them working right, but there is usually enough info in the Crossover Database to tell you how to get games to work... for the ones that do work, not everything will.

There is also Cider (and Wine based wrappers), which is mainly used by hobbyist to make Mac ports of Windows... Cider is a professional product used in real Mac ports, that is often hacked by he hobbyists to work for other games.... Cider and other Wine based wrappers are my main way I do gaming, and am in middle of my own project to make my own Wine based porting tool. If you want more info on this way of playing Windows games, check the forums out at http://forum.ibrain.com.ua/

The other option is just to install Windows with Bootcamp and run your Mac just like a PC... run the game in Windows, but lose all access to OSX and OSX software while your doing it.

4 will only be useful if you are using programs that can utilize a lot of ram, or using many programs at once... or if your using VMware (or Parallels) as they can take a dedicated amount of ram for the virtual machine.

I don't usually play higher end games on my 9400, but it does run pretty good, but the newer the game is the lower the settings you'll have to use.

yes, the laptop generates more heat depending on how hard your pushing it... fans spin up faster to help dissipate this heat. On my MBP 15"er when I have it ran maxed out as hard as my computer can go, the fans are at 6200rpm and the CPU temp is around 85º C

The current Macbook Pros do not have mini-DVI, they have Mini-DP. DP= display port. Yes there are 3rd parties that sell Mini-DP to HDMI, but Apples mini-DP port isn't hard wired for sound, so you have to take the sound out in a different way.